Banyan Tree Mayakoba vs Maroma: Which to Book

The short answer

Same coast. Different feel.

Both are top Riviera Maya stays. Banyan Tree is all villas with private pools, set along lagoons and mangrove canals. Maroma is a small, low-rise Belmond hotel right on the sand.

Banyan Tree Mayakoba

Rooms159 villas with private pools, Asian-inflected design

SettingMayakoba’s lagoons and mangrove canals, with a beach club and the El Camaleón course nearby

Best forFamilies and groups who want a pool of their own, golfers

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Maroma, A Belmond Hotel

Rooms72 rooms in hand-built palapa architecture

SettingPunta Maroma, one of the Riviera Maya’s calmest stretches of sand, between jungle and reef

Best forCouples and anyone who wants the beach outside the door

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Banyan Tree Mayakoba

A pool for every villa.

All 159 villas have private pools, threaded through Mayakoba’s lagoons and mangrove canals. The beach club, the El Camaleón golf course and the Riviera Maya’s cenotes are close at hand.

El Camaleón hosts Mexico’s PGA TOUR event, a few minutes from the villas. Higher villa categories can carry a higher resort credit.

See Banyan Tree Mayakoba →

Maroma, A Belmond Hotel

Palapas on calm sand.

Maroma is Belmond’s low-rise hideaway on Punta Maroma, with 72 rooms in hand-built palapa architecture between the jungle and the reef.

It sits on one of the calmest stretches of sand on the coast, forty minutes from Cancún airport. The beach is part of every day here.

See Maroma, A Belmond Hotel →

What they share

The Riviera Maya, done well.

Both include daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, an upgrade when available and a $100 credit when you book with us. December through April brings the driest, coolest weather at either.

Booked through us

Same rate. More included.

You pay the hotel’s own rate. At Banyan Tree we add an upgrade when available, daily buffet breakfast for two per bedroom, a $100 resort credit (higher possible for higher villa categories) and early check-in or late check-out.

At Maroma: an upgrade when available, daily breakfast for two per bedroom, a $100 resort credit, early check-in or late check-out and Wi-Fi.

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Our pick

Which one we’d book.

For three generations or families with older kids: Banyan Tree Mayakoba. Every villa has its own pool, with golf, a beach club and cenotes nearby.

For couples: Maroma. Seventy-two rooms on calm sand, with the beach right outside.

Tell us who’s coming and we’ll tell you which rooms are worth it.

Check my dates

Questions, answered.

Which is better for a multi-generation group or older kids?

Banyan Tree Mayakoba. Every one of its 159 villas has a private pool, and the beach club, El Camaleón golf and the cenotes give older kids plenty to do. Breakfast is included for up to two guests per bedroom.

Which is better for couples?

Maroma. It is a 72-room, low-rise Belmond hotel on one of the calmest stretches of sand on the Riviera Maya. Couples who want a private pool will love a Banyan Tree villa too.

How do they differ?

Banyan Tree is all private-pool villas set along lagoons and mangrove canals inside Mayakoba. Maroma is a small palapa-style hotel directly on the beach at Punta Maroma, forty minutes from Cancún airport.

Is the rate the same as booking direct?

Yes. The nightly rate is the hotel’s own best available rate. Booked through us, it comes with the Virtuoso extras, confirmed in writing.

Do I pay you or the hotel?

You pay the hotel directly. We confirm availability and the rate, attach the Virtuoso amenities in writing and hold the room. There is no fee from us.

Banyan Tree or
Maroma?

Same coast. Different feel.

Banyan Tree Mayakoba

Maroma, A Belmond Hotel

A pool for every villa.

Palapas on calm sand.

The Riviera Maya, done well.

Same rate. More included.

Which one we’d book.

Questions, answered.

Tell us your dates. You’ll hear back in minutes.

Banyan Tree orMaroma?

Same coast. Different feel.

Banyan Tree Mayakoba

Maroma, A Belmond Hotel

A pool for every villa.

Palapas on calm sand.

The Riviera Maya, done well.

Same rate. More included.

Which one we’d book.

Questions, answered.

Tell us your dates. You’ll hear back in minutes.

Banyan Tree or
Maroma?